The bill will lead to changes in GP contracts

The Scottish Parliament's health committee said it was being asked to rubber-stamp legislation without access to the facts.

It is seeking changes to the legislative timetable so members can scrutinise the details before the next stage of the parliamentary process.

However, Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm has warned about the impact of delaying the passage of the Primary Medical Services Bill.

The executive says it is committed to restructuring the NHS in a bid to improve treatment and patient choice.

The new laws are required to make the changes in areas such as GP contracts and the new duties of health boards.

Timetable for change

The UK-wide regulations are still under discussion on both sides of the border.

The executive is keen to keep its timetable for change on course in Scotland.

However, members of Holyrood's health committee have complained that they are being asked to approve the bare bones of the bill without any of the detailed regulations which go with it.

The convenor of the committee, Christine Grahame, said the move severely compromises the work of the parliament.

We have major concerns regarding the implementation of this legislation Christine Grahame Committee convener

In a letter to Mr Chisholm, which accompanies the committee's stage one report on the bill, Ms Grahame said: "Our committee considers the lack of regulations most unsatisfactory and a cause of great concern.

"It is the role of Scottish Parliament committees to scrutinise legislation and its probable impact.

"Without sight of the regulations, this committee's role has been severely compromised.

"We have not seen any of the draft regulations which will implement the bill and if we allow this bill to significantly progress without sight of them, we consider that our vital scrutiny function has been severely impaired.

"As a result, we have major concerns regarding the implementation of this legislation."

But Ms Grahame added: "The committee is satisfied that the bill has the potential to improve the present situation with regard to the delivery of primary medical services and the recruitment and retention of staff."

A delay could be a serious matter if it would delay when we could implement the new contract Malcolm Chisholm Health Minister

The committee has recommended that the parliament backs the general principles of the bill in the stage one vote, which would automatically enable the legislation to progress to stage two.

However, it also wants the existing legislative timetable to be redrawn to allow the committee to scrutinise all draft regulations before that stage gets under way.

Mr Chisholm said: "It is not usual practice to produce draft regulations at the same time as draft bills but we are working with the other UK health departments to prepare regulations as quickly as possible to implement the provisions of the bill.

"A delay could be a serious matter if it would delay when we could implement the new contract.